Razer Boomslang Collector’s Edition Gaming Mouse Review

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I surfed around with the Boomslang CE for a good week, fired up some games, and got a pretty good idea what this mouse has to offer. It has plenty of goodies for users who want extra buttons (two on each side), a very accurate and fast sensor, and a pretty spiffy and sturdy appearance.

While these are great qualities in a gaming mouse, I stand by my claim that comfort is the most important quality in any mouse, period. Unfortunately, the Boomslang is tarnished by a design that is too old, not comfortable. It just goes to show that in nine years, mice have evolved into much more comfortable devices.

Although presenting a mouse that is symmetrical and hence suitable for lefties and righties equally is considered a good thing, many would argue that a symmetrical mouse doesn’t match the comfort of a right- or left-hand specific mouse.

I would be one of those people who would agree with that—though I do say this from the biased opinion of a right-hander, so pretty much everything is geared towards me. Regardless, I’ve used much more comfortable symmetrical mice in years past, many of which have come from Razer’s labs, like the Lachesis.

My two biggest, and probably only, complaints with the Boomslang are with its grip and button placement. Is it better to rest my palm on the mouse, or navigate with the fingertips?

The Boomslang caters to both methods, yet doesn’t quite master either of them. And next, the thumb buttons are too convenient. A bad thing? Yes, because these buttons (on both sides) are precisely where I grip the mouse, resulting in far too many accidental presses. Either move these buttons, or make them harder to press. That way you can deliberately press them when you want.

Of course, this was a common annoyance earlier in my testing, and I would eventually loosen my grip on the mouse in the long run. Still, I’d rather give my mouse a firm squeeze for more subtle and precise movement.

Ok, so no more complaining. The greatest feature the Boomslang offers is its tracking. Its 3G sensor and super slick Teflon feet ensure that you will get an accurate reading from the cursor.I would peg Razer’s tracking capabilities as the best around, and I could easily tell a difference when jumping from one mouse to the Boomslang. Of course, this would be even better if I had a better handle on the grip (see my rant in the preceding paragraphs).

The included software offers a familiar user interface found in Razer’s other gaming mice. You can tweak sensitivity 10 different ways (including X- and Y-axis), as well as remap any of the five buttons. There’s a dpi switcher, from 400 dpi to 1800 dpi. You can even adjust the mouse’s polling rate.

I wouldn’t fork over $100 bones for the Boomslang, but I can’t say the same for others who want to rekindle their love affair with the first gaming mouse on the planet. The Boomslang CE offers plenty of schwag to go along with the mouse, and you’re paying top dollar for some decent components, but there are plenty of better mice offered for far less.

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